Ken+Francis

=Ken Francis=

My Big Three for 2011-12:

 * ~ Name of Tool ||~ URL for tool ||
 * Animoto || [|www.animoto.com] ||
 * Wikispaces || www.wikispaces.com ||
 * iDevice apps: || I want to develop a list of free/cheap apps for students to use for labs or activities ||

http://biodump.wikispaces.com/Unit+One
 * Link to my BioDump Wiki:**

media type="custom" key="10041643" I will be using Animoto during the first week of class this fall during the cell unit. This unit is a quick review of material that students had in 7th grade. However, it is foundational material that is needed to build from for much of the first semester so it is important that each student refresh their knowledge of it. Following a quick instructional review of the material by me, students will produce their own short video. Students will then view the videos within their own small group (4) and be asked to critique the content of other group members videos. Students groups will then submit an entry for whole class viewing. Additional videos will be shared if time allows.
 * Animoto Video - Cellular Organelles Student Sample**
 * Animoto Project:**

- F.12.1 Evaluate the normal structures and the general and special functions of cells in single-celled and multiple- celled organisms - F.12.2 Understand how cells differentiate and how cells are regulated - F.12.4 State the relationships between functions of the cell and functions of the organism as related to genetics and heredity
 * Wisc. Model Academic Standards**

1. Creativity and Innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology 2. Communication and Collaboration - Students use digital media and environments to commuinicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to suport individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Students**

II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES - Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. A. design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners. C. identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability. III. TEACHING, LEARNING, AND THE CURRICULUM - Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards. B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment. **Google Docs - As a Tool for Student Collaboration** **Evaluation:** It is a bit early for me to provide an indepth evaluation of google docs since I just got my first taste of it today. With that in mind, I like the idea of being able to work on my documents from any computer with internet access. This obviously has some considerable advantages. However, I also have several reservations giving up control of my carefully crafted documents to the cloud. Since my own personal technology cloud always seems to be a bit on the dark side and the silver lining doesn't show itself as often as I would like. It leaves me wondering how secure is my information? Who is backing up the cloud? What if the cloud is hacked and corrupted? I'm not sure I'm willing to give up personal control for the level of convienence offered by it. Additionally, it appears that converting word documents to google forms is not a perfect situation. If buggered up formatting of word documents that are converted and placed in the cloud is the norm, I am unwilling to recreate all of my existing documents for the convenience. With that said, I can still see the value of using google docs as a student platform for collaborating. I view this type of student collaboration creating projects with a short shelf life of a few days to several weeks. If the project get lost in the cloud shortly after they have served their purpose, it is not a big deal. In the unlikely event that the cloud crashes during an active project it will cause some hardship but the value of the collaboration in the long run of the semester will offset the possible loss of a single project. At this point I see google docs as a short term group communication tool that will be very effective. I do not see it as a place to archive my files that provides me with universal access.
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Teacher**

**Collaborative Google Docs Projects/Activities/****Lab Experiments** Students team up and collaborate on lab experiments by collecting data ias small lab groups and then record it jointly on a common Google Doc/Spreadsheet. With the collected data they can compare, contrast, analyze information to reach either group or individual conclusions. Using the multiple observations and larger data set that are possible when small lab group results are combined, better data trends/graphs should emerge making analysis easier and more accurate. Students can also write final lab reports and follow-up questions collectively.


 * Sample Lesson Using Google Docs Collaboration - ** See Unit/Lesson Plan Below

C.12.3 Evaluate* the data collected during an investigation*, critique the data-collection procedures and results, and suggest ways to make any needed improvements C.12.4 During investigations*, choose the best data-collection procedures and materials available, use them competently, and calculate the degree of precision of the resulting data F.12.11 Investigate how the complexity and organization of organisms accommodates the need for obtaining, transforming, transporting, releasing, and eliminating the matter and energy* used to sustain an organism 1. Creativity and Innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology 2. Communication and Collaboration - Students use digital media and environments to commuinicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to suport individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making - Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
 * Wisc. Model Academic Standards**
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Students**

II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES - Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. A. design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners. C. identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability. III. TEACHING, LEARNING, AND THE CURRICULUM - Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards. B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Teacher**
 * My Unit/Lesson Plan**
 * Photosynthesis - Elodea Lab as a Collaborative Google Docs Activity**
 * This is a lab that I already do in my General Biology Class. I found this new and improved version in the Google Lesson Plans for Educators, there are others that I may be able to use here as well.

[|Photosythesis - Elodea Lab]


 * Lesson Plan Link to Intel Template**



1. Creativity and Innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology 2. Communication and Collaboration - Students use digital media and environments to commuinicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to suport individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. 4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making - Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Students**

II. PLANNING AND DESIGNING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND EXPERIENCES - Teachers plan and design effective learning environments and experiences supported by technology. A. design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology-enhanced instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of learners. C. identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability. III. TEACHING, LEARNING, AND THE CURRICULUM - Teachers implement curriculum plans that include methods and strategies for applying technology to maximize student learning. A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards. B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment.
 * ISTE - Technology Standards: Teacher**